Using a generate with for loop in verilog

Question

I\'m trying to understand why we use generate in verilog along with a for loop.

Using a generate and for loop together:

reg [3:0] temp;
genvar i;
gen         


        

Answer 1

In the example without the generate, i should be a genvar not integer. Otherwise, both are valid depending on the version of the IEEE Std 1364 supported by your tool set. The generate construct was added in in IEEE Std 1364-2001 where the generate/endgenerate keywords are explicitly required. In IEEE Std 1364-2005 it became optional with the only requirement that if generate is used it must have a matching endgenerate.

When using IEEE Std 1364-2005 or SystemVerilog (IEEE Std 1800), it is a matter for coding style preference of implicit vs explicit declaration. Explicit does have the advantage of being backward comparability.

---

Generate blocks are useful when change the physical structure of then module via parameters. For example choosing negedge or posedge clock and only enabling one:

if ( param_use_pos == 1) begin : use_pos
  always @(posedge sysclk) begin
    ...
  end
end
else begin : use_neg
  always @(negedge sysclk) begin
     ...
  end
end

If you are not changing the physical structure, it is typically better to use for loops and if-else statements inside the always block. Both approaches can synthesize the same but when running RTL simulation the non-generate block approach will typically simulate faster. This is because simulators normally can process a single N-bit operation faster than N 1-bit operations. Again synthesis is the same result

// faster :: 1 always block, simulator can optimize the for loop
always @(posedge sysclk) begin 
  for (i = 0; i < 3 ; i = i + 1) begin
    temp[i] <= 1'b0;
  end
end

// slower :: creates 4 always blocks, harder for the simulator to optimize
genvar i;
generate // optional if > *-2001
for (i = 0; i < 3 ; i = i + 1) begin 
    always @(posedge sysclk) begin
        temp[i] <= 1'b0;
    end
end
endgenerate // match generate 

Answer 2

In general, the main difference between generate for loop and regular for loop is that the generate for loop is generating an instance for each iteration. Meaning that in your example there will be 3 always blocks (as opposed to 1 block in the regular loop case).

A good example of code that requires generate for is:

module A();
..
endmodule;

module B();
parameter NUM_OF_A_MODULES = 2; // should be overriden from higher hierarchy
genvar i;
for (i=0 i<NUM_OF_A_MODULES; i=i+1) {
  A A_inst();
}
endmodule;

In this example a regular for cannot do the work of creating NUM_OF_A_MODULES instances.

In your example, you can acheive the required result in both ways. (as long as you fix some minor bugs :) )